Chapter 50

Chapter 50:

The expressions of the late-arriving executives grew grim. The group’s leader, Michelle Frey, scoffed sharply. “Fine, if you’re set on doing this, we’ll have no choice but to resign.”

Her declaration visibly shifted the mood of the room.

Out of camaraderie, Brenda leaned toward Madisyn and cautioned in a low voice, “Miss Johns, think carefully. Michelle’s formula is crucial for our upcoming product. If she leaves with it, we won’t be able to launch, and we’ll lose our clients.”

Madisyn remained calm, her gaze steady on Michelle. “Go ahead,” she said, addressing not just Michelle but the others who had shown up late. “Are all of you leaving together?”

The room fell silent as everyone waited for Madisyn’s next move.

Michelle’s confidence wavered slightly. “Are you sure about this? If you can’t release the new product, Natural Beauty is done for!”

Madisyn repeated her question, her tone sharp. “Are you all leaving together?”

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The latecomers exchanged nervous glances, still believing their collective resignation would force Madisyn to reconsider.

But half an hour later, they stood outside the building in the cold wind, slowly coming to terms with the fact that Madisyn had indeed fired them. She hadn’t caved to their threats.

Had Madisyn lost her senses? Natural Beauty wasn’t at its peak, but it had the backing of the Johns Group and offered great benefits. The now-dismissed employees were starting to regret their hasty decision.

“Michelle, what should we do now? She’s serious! Maybe we should return. Jobs with benefits like those at Natural Beauty are hard to come by,” one of the executives murmured anxiously.

Michelle clenched her teeth, but then smirked. “Don’t worry. I have an offer from another company—Migge Skincare. I haven’t accepted it yet, but I can bring you all with me.”

The group hesitated. Migge Skincare had been a rival to Natural Beauty for years, and while the offer was tempting, it felt like jumping into enemy territory. But with no other options, they followed Michelle’s lead.

Inside her office, Madisyn returned to her desk, where Brenda tried to persuade her one last time. “Miss Johns, this is too risky. Without that formula, the product launch is doomed. Our customers will lose trust in us!”

Madisyn offered a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I have a plan.”

Brenda, still skeptical, asked, “What plan?”

Just then, Madisyn’s phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she gestured for Brenda to excuse herself, then answered the call.

“Madisyn…” came a strained voice on the other end. It was Susan. “Can I come over?”

Madisyn’s brows furrowed with concern. “What’s wrong?”

“I… I got fired,” Susan replied, her voice faltering.

“Fired? Why? You’ve always been such a hardworking employee,” Madisyn asked, confused.

“I’m not sure why they let me go either,” Susan said, clearly upset. She had worked at the company since graduation and was blindsided by the sudden termination.

Madisyn paused briefly, then suggested, “Come see me. We’ll talk.”

Within an hour, Susan arrived at Madisyn’s office. After a bit of research, Madisyn discovered that Susan’s former employer was supported by the Reed family.

“It seems your dismissal may be connected to me. I’m sorry, Susan,” Madisyn said apologetically.

Susan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That can’t be true!”

Madisyn sighed and explained the connection. “The Reed family backs Migge Skincare, and given Josie’s grudge against me, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was her doing.”

A heavy burden seemed to settle on Susan’s shoulders. “So… does wealth and power mean people can just ruin someone’s life like that?”

Madisyn offered her friend a comforting smile. “Actually, I think being let go might be a blessing in disguise for you.”

Susan frowned. “Why would you say that?”

Madisyn leaned forward, her eyes shining with a new idea. “Because I’m looking for someone with your skills. I know you’ve always wanted to be a formula developer, and now you have the chance. Come work for me.”

Susan blinked in surprise. “Really? You think I can do it?”

Madisyn nodded with certainty. “Absolutely. I’ve seen your work, and it’s excellent. We need to develop a new product quickly, so the challenge will be tough—but I know you can handle it.”

Excitement replaced Susan’s uncertainty. “I’m up for it!”

Madisyn smiled warmly. “Good. Let’s get started.”

Without delay, Madisyn made the arrangements for Susan to join Natural Beauty. She also instructed her team to prepare some initial formulas for review.

That very afternoon, Madisyn scheduled a meeting with a supplier of a rare raw material. The supplier was considering offering exclusive rights to one distributor in Gemond, and Madisyn was eager to secure the deal.

Arriving early at the meeting venue, she was surprised to run into a familiar face.

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